SLA deserters killed robbing bank

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 December 1999, 14:40 GMT]A policeman and four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) deserters who attempted to rob a bank in Elpitiya around 11 a.m. this morning were killed in ensuing clashes, police sources said.

The policeman was killed when the robbers threw a grenade at the police team, which came to the bank upon being informed of robbery, the sources, said.

One of the robbers was killed when the police returned fire. The police chased the rest of them and killed three more, the sources added.

The police said investigations have revealed that the robbers were SLA soldiers who had deserted with their weapons.